Carton flap closing apparatus



Jan. 11, 1966 R. JOHNSON ETAL 3,

CARTON FLAP CLOSING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 6, 1962 INVENTOR. m R. JOHNSON 2, LUTHER H. WIDEMAN 715221, Avua, 394., 44%.;-

A TTORNEYISI 1966 J. R. JOHNSON ETAL 3,223,172

CARTON FLAP CLO-SING APPARATUS Filed June 6, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY 20) 7 1844, d am;

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CARTON FLAP CLOSING APPARATUS Filed June 6, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 llllllllllllllll"HIM!!! 1N VEN TOR JOHN R. JOHNSON LUTHER H. WIDEMAN A TTORNE Y5:

FIG. 4

United States Patent 0 3,228,172 CARTON FLAP CLOSING APPARATUS John R. Johnson and Luther H. Wideman, Toledo, Ohio,

assignors to Owens-Illinois Giass Company, a corporation of Ohio Filed June 6, 1962, Ser. No. 2%,382 15 Claims. (Cl. 53-374) This invention relates to carton flap closing apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for preventing interference between carton flaps during the flap closing operation.

The invention is particularly directed to apparatus for folding the top end flaps of a generally rectangular carton to their respective closed positions and to subsequently fold the top side flaps to closed positions in which the side flaps overlie the closed end flaps. In an operation of this type, the carton is conventionally conveyed along a conveyer and advanced beneath a front end flap closing cam which engages the leading end flap of the carton and deflects the end flap to its closed position. At substantially the same time, a rear flap tucker is moved into engagement with the trailing end flap of the carton to move the trailing end flap to its closed position before the trailing end flap is advanced beneath the front flap closing cam surface. Stationary plows or side flap closing cams then engage the carton side flaps to move them to their closed position.

In certain cases, after the carton has been packed it is advanced along a conveying system in a manner such that the carton does not proceed immediately from the loading or packing station to the flap closing station. In situations of this type, a problem rises by virtue of the tendency of the top side flaps of the carton to assume a position in which they are inclined either inwardly or outwardly of the carton. If the side flaps incline inwardly of the carton, they interfere with the closing of the front end flap and also of the rear end flap, resulting in either deformation of the flaps involved or closing of the front or rear end flap into overlying relationship with the side flap.

Prior art attempts to solve this problem have usually resulted in quite complex structures in which various finger-like mechanisms or similar devices are actuated in timed relationship with the movement of cartons along the conveyer to drive the side flaps to an outwardly inclined position and maintain the side flaps in outwardly inclined non-interfering positions during the closing of the end flaps. One example of a device of this type is disclosed in United States Patent No. 930,090. These complex mechanisms have been considered necessary because, in the usual case, the height of the carton end flap is substantially equal to the height of the carton side flaps and hence when the front end flap of the carton is in an upright open position, it effectively shields the leading edges of the side flaps from any stationary deflecting devices when the side flaps are in inwardly inclined interfering positions.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide carton flap closing apparatus wherein apparatus for deflecting the side flaps to non-interfering positions during closure of the end flaps is mounted in stationary relationship to the carton conveyer.

It is another object of the invention to provide carton flap closing apparatus including means for maintaining the carton side flaps in non-interfering positions during closure of the end flaps wherein operation of the side flap deflecting means need not be correlated with movement of the carton along the conveyer.

Still another object of the invention is to provide carton flap closing apparatus in accordance with the foregoing objects which is readily adjustable to accommodate cartons of widely varying dimensions.

The foregoing, and other objects, are achieved in a carton flap closing apparatus which includes a conventional leading end flap closing cam, flap tucker and side flap closing plows all mounted upon a movable frame which is adjustable vertically relative to a carton advancing conveyer. A pair of rotating brushes are mounted upon the frame assembly for rotation about spaced axes substantially parallel to'the direction of movement of cartons along the conveyer. The brushes are quite thin in their axial extent and are mounted for rotation in general planes of rotation spaced forwardly from the front flap closing cam of the apparatus. The axes of rotation of the brushes are spaced at equal distances above the conveying surface and are related to the front closing cam in a fashion such that the upper edge of a front end flap which is to be closed by the cam will pass below the axis of rotation. One brush is offset forwardly from the other so that the brushes may be rotated in transversely overlapping relationship. The brushes are adjustable transversely of the frame assembly to accommodate for varying carton widths.

The axial flexibility of the brushes permits an erect carton end flap to pass through the brushes as it is advanced along the conveying means. The brushes are rotated in opposite directions such that they will engage and brush or deflect outwardly the respective side flaps of the carton. The brushes may be rotated continuously or, if desired, may be related to the position of the carton along the conveyer. The spacing of the brushes longitudinally of the apparatus from the front flap closing cam is such that the front flap is closed by the cam and the rear flap tucker is actuated while the side flaps are deflected into outwardly inclined non-interfering position by the brushes. The carton side flap closing plows are located on the frame assembly rearwardly of the brushes.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following specification and to the drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a simplified side elevational view of a carton closing apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a detail side elevational view of a carton closing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an offset cross-sectional view of the apparatus taken on line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detail view, partially in cross-section, showing details of the brush adjusting assembly; and

FIG. 5 is a detail view of the brush adjusting assembly taken approximately on line 55 of FIG. 4.

Referring first to FIG. 1, the carton flap closing apparatus is disclosed as including an endless belt conveyer designated generally 10 supported at an incline on a suitably constructed conveyer frame such as 12 and including an endless conveyer belt 14 driven by conventional means, not shown. In the particular apparatus disclosed, conveyer it) is inclined as in FIG. 1 to cooperate with a carton turning or inverting mechanism which turns a carton upside down after the top flaps have been closed by the flap closing apparatus to be described below.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the carton flap closing apparatus includes a fixed frame constructed from a pair of upright fixed frame members 16 joined at their upper and lower ends by stationary upper and lower cross members 18 and 20, respectively. The fixed frame comprised by the two members 16 and members 18 and 20 is fixedly secured as by welding to appropriate portions of a fixed frame 12 of conveyer 10.

The carton flap closing mechanism and carton turnover mechanism are mounted upon a movable frame designated generally 22 for adjustment up and down uprights 16 in a direction normal to the general plane of the carrying run of conveyer belt 14. Movable frame 22 includes a main cross frame member 24 which is recessed at each end to slideably receive-stationary guide rails 26 fixedly mounted on the inner side of each of uprights 16. Movable frame 22 is vertically positioned between uprights 16 by an adjustment screw 28 threadably received Within a stationary nut 30 located centrally of upper cross frame member 18. The lower end of screw 28 is coupled through a thrust bearing 32 to main cross frame member 24 of movable frame 22. Rotation of screw 28 by manual rotation of a hand crank 34 causes screw 28 to be advanced upwardly or downwardly through stationary nut 30 and the axial movement of screw 28 through nut 38 is transmitted to movable frame 22 through thrust bearing 32 to shift movable frame 22 bodily to a selected vertical position between uprights 16. A scale 36 mounted upon one upright 16 is cooperable with a pointer 37 mounted upon movable frame 22 to indicate the location of movable frame 22 above the surface of conveying belt 14 in terms of the height of cartons being handled upon the conveyer.

Fixedly secured to the downstream side of main cross frame member 24 of movable frame 22 are a pair of bracket-like frame members 38. A generally triangular frame member 40 is fixedly secured to and suspended from the lower right-hand end of brackets 38 as viewed in FIG. 2. The inclined lower side surface of frame member 40 is formed with a stationary abutment or flap closing cam 42 which is supported above the carrying run of conveyer belt 14 by a distance such that earn surface 42 is operable to engage and fold downwardly to a horizontal position the leading or front end flap F of a carton C advanced beneath cam surface 42 upon conveyer 14. An auxiliary frame member 44 extends rearwardly from the trailing end of cam surface 42 in parallel relationship with the carrying run of conveyer belt 14 and a rearwardly projecting spring finger 46 is mounted upon the trailing end of member 44. Members 44 and 46 are operable to hold both the front end flap F and the rear end flap R of a carton C in their closed position.

At the upper and forward end of brackets 38, a plate 48 is fixedly mounted upon the brackets and formed with a journal 50 which receives the pivot pin 52 of a rear flap tucker member 54. The trailing end of flap tucker 54 is pivotally coupled as at 56 to the piston rod 58 of an air motor 60, the cylinder of air motor 60 being pivotally supported as at 62 from brackets 38. In FIG. 2, flap tucker 54 is shown at one limit of movement wherein pis t-on rod 58 of air motor 60 is in its fully retracted position. Extension of piston rod 58 from air motor 60 drives flap tucker 54 in clockwise pivotal movement about pin 52 to cause the toe portion 64 of flap tucker 54 to engage and fold forwardly and downwardly the rear or trailing end flap R of a carton C. Toe 64 is located in a substantially horizontal position when piston rod 58 is fully extended, the broken line showing of flap tucker 54 in FIG. 2 showing its position just prior to movement into engagement with rear flap R.

Also mounted upon plate 48 is a rotating brush assembly designated generally 66 which is employed to provide positive insurance that the carton side flaps S do not interfere with the closing of the front and rear end flaps. Brush assembly 66 includes a pair of like arm members 68 which differ from each other only in that they are mounted in a reversed sense. As best seen in FIG. 4, one of the arms 68 is formed with a vertical rear side surface 70 and an inclined front side surface 72. The arm 68 shown in full line in FIG. 4 is pivotally supportedfrom plate 48 upon a pin 74 which is located at the right-hand side of plate 48 as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 5. The other arm 68 is mounted upona pin 76 at the opposite side of plate 48. The arm 68 which is mounted upon pin 76 is identical in construction with the arm 68 supported upon pin 74 except that in the case of the arm mounted upon pin '76, the vertical surface is located at the front of the assembly-i.e., remote from plate 48-while the inclined surface 72 is located at the back of the assemblyi.e., facing plate 48.

At the lower end of inclined side surface 72, each arm 68 merges into a generally flat lower end portion 78 and, by virtue of the reversed mounting of the respective arms described above, the lower end portions 78 of the two arms are offset from each other as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4. At the distal end of lower portion 78, a downwardly projecting strut 88 serves as a support for the housing of a rotary air motor 82 having a relatively thin circular brush 84 mounted upon its shaft 86. By virtue of the offset relationship of the lower portion 7 8 of the respective arms 68, the two brushes 84 are likewise offset, one behind the other as best seen in FIG. 2.

The two brushes are supported for adjustment transversely of the direction of movement of cartons along conveyer 18 between the position of FIG. 3 which represents the minimum spacing between the two brushes and a position wherein the two brushes are transversely spaced from each other by a distance somewhat greater than that indicated in FIG. 5. Each arm 68 is formed. with a slot 88 in its lower portion '78, the slots 88 in their respective arms being so located as to overlap each other within the range of movement of the brushes. A bracket assembly on plate 48 having upper and lower arms 90 and 92, respectively, is constructed with a pair of side plates 94 which support a slide block 96 for vertical movement between the upper and lower arms 98 and 92. Slide block 96 is internally threaded and threadably receives a vertical screw 98 having a shaft 108 rotatably journaled in upper arm 98 and projecting pin 102 rotatably received within a bore in lower arm 92. Pins 104 project from the front and rear of slide block 96 and are respectively received within the slots 88 of the arms 68. Manual rotation of shaft as by a crank 186 causes slide block 96 to be moved upwardly or downwardly within side plates 94, thereby simultaneously elevating or lowering the pins 184. By virtue of the ofiset relationship between pins 104 and the respective axes of pivotal movements of the two arms 68 about their pivotal mounting 74 and 76, upward vertical movement of slide block 96 causes the two brushes 84 to be moved laterally away from each other, while lowering movement of slide block 96 causes the two brushes to move toward each other. A projecting pointer 108 mounted on the forward pin 104 cooperates with a fixed scale 116) supported upon lower arm 92 to indicate the lateral brush spacing in terms of a carton width measurement. The respective brushes 84 are rotated in opposite directions as indicated by the arrows of FIG. 3.

The function of brushes 84 is to assure that the carton side flaps S are inclined outwardly to a position such that they do not interfere with the closing of the front or rear carton end flaps. The carton end flaps are closed during that period of time within which the side flaps are engaged by brushes 84 and, after the carton is conveyed beyond the brushes, the side flaps are then to be folded downwardly into a closed position in overlying relationship with the closed end flaps. To initiate closing movement of the side flaps, a pair of inclined abutments 112 are supported from spaced brackets 114 by tubular members 116 and 118. Brackets 114 are supported in trackways 121 formed in cross frame member 24 by means of which the brackets may be adjustably positioned laterally of the conveyer. The inclined abutments 112 extend downwardly to a position below the juncture of the side flaps S and the vertical carton side walls so that as long as the carton side flaps S are not depressed outwardly at an angle substantially below the horizontal, the leading edge of the carton side flaps are respectively engaged by the inclined abutments 112 to swing the side flap back toward the vertical a sufficient amount so that they will be engaged by the side flap closing members 120 located rearwardly of uprights 16.

Rearwardly extending plates 122 are mounted upon each inclined abutment 112 to maintain the carton side flaps in a substantially upright position until they are advanced into engagement wtih the leading end of the side fiap closing member. A pointer such as 124 is mounted on each bracket 114 to indicate upon a stationary scale 126 the position of inclined abutments 112 in terms of carton width.

The side fiap closing members 1211 are, in the disclosed embodiment, supported from a carton inverter arm 128 which in turn is supported upon main cross frame member 24 for pivotal movement upon a pin 130 mounted in a bracket 132 on cross frame members 24. A stationary arm 134 projects outwardly from cross frame member 24 beneath arm 128 to define a lower limit of pivotal move ment of arm 128 about pivot 13!). The leading end of side flap closing members 121 are suspended from arm 128 as by tubular frame members 136 while the trailing end of members 120 are coupled directly to arm 128 near its distal end 138. As best seen in FIG. 3, side flap closing members 121) are inclined inwardly and rearwardly toward the center line of the conveyer and, as best seen in FIG. 2, the plate-like members 121) are twisted from a substantially vertical position near their forward ends into a substantially horizontal position near their trailing or left-hand ends as vewed in FIG. 2. As the carton is advanced from right to left past members 121 the side flaps of the carton are engaged by the respective members 120 and folded inwardly and downwardly as the carton moves toward the left along conveyer 10.

To center cartons approaching the closing mechanism laterally upon the conveyer, a pair of adjustable side guide members are mounted one on each side of the conveyer. Each side guide includes an elongate arm assembly 1411 supported from upright 16 and extending downstream a substantial distance from the upright. A stationary post 142 is mounted upon the right-hand end of arm 140 as viewed in FIG. 2 and a horizontal collar 144 at the upper end of the post slideably mounts a support rod 146 which projects transversely inwardly of the conveyer. A set screw 148 is threaded into collar 144 to lock support rod 146 at selected adjusted positions. A similar post, collar and set screw assembly designated generally 150 is mounted on the left-hand or rearward side of each upright 16 as by an angle iron 152 to similarly support a second support rod 154. An elongate guide rod 156 is fixedly secured, as by welding, to the respective inner ends of support rods 146 and 154 to slideably engage the side of the carton as the carton is advanced along the conveyer. Preferably, the right-hand ends of guide rods 156 as viewed in 1 1G. 2 are divergent laterally from each other.

Arms 1419 include a pair of spaced upper end lower angle members, the spacing between the angle members having to pass a clamp screw such as 158 to adjustably locate carton actuated valves such as V-1 and V-2 longitudinally of the conveyer. Carton actuated valve V-1 is employed to control the actuation of air motor 60 to extend piston rod 58 when the valve actuating arm 160 is deflected by the leading end of a carton. Valve V2 is employed to control operation of air motors 82 to start the air motors rotating as a carton approaches the brushes and to discontinue operation of the air motor after the carton side flaps have been deflected outwardly by the brushes.

In operation, the apparatus is first adjusted in accordance with the size of cartons to be closed by the apparatus. In order to more clearly show details of the apparatus, it is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 as set up to close a carton of minimum size. In setting up the apparatus, it is first adjusted in terms of carton height, the height adjustment being set in terms of the height of the closed carton, by rotating crank 34 to elevate movable frame 22 to the desired position which may be read directly in terms of carton height at pointer 37 on scale 36. Because all of the flap closing and manipulating elements are mounted upon movable frame 22, this single adjustment accurately locates all of the elements in the correct vertically spaced relationship to the carrying run of conveyor belt 14.

Three adjustments are made in terms of the transverse Width of the cartons to be handled. For convenience, the transverse spacing of the inclined abutments 112 is first set by manually sliding the respective brackets 114 in their tracks 121 until the pointers 124 are located at the correct indication of carton width on their respective scales 126. With the inclined abutment surfaces 112 correctly located, guide rods 156 may then be manually adjusted by sliding their support rods 146 and 154 to the correct position and subsequently clamping the guide rods. The setting of the guide rods can conveniently be made by reference to the transverse spacing of members 112 on cartons of relatively small height or otherwise by direct measurement of the support rod position relative to its supporting collar.

The third carton width adjustment is that of the spacing between brushes 84, this adjustment being made by rotating crank 1116 until pointer 10% is located at the correct carton width indication on scale 119.

Valves V-1 and V2 are then adjusted longitudinally of the conveyer, valve V1 being so located that it will be deflected by the leading edge of the carton to actuate the flap tucker motor 60 to close the rear flap R of the carton at some time while the side flaps S are deflected outwardly by brushes 84. Valve V2 is so located that it starts operation of air motors 82 as the leading end of the carton approaches the brushes and maintains the air motors in operation for a sufiicient period of time to engage the side flaps of the carton to drive the side flaps to the outwardly inclined position shown in FIG. 3. It is not necessary that the air motors operate throughout the length of time that the carton side flaps are in engagement with the brushes since once the flaps are deflected to the position of FIG. 3, the brush periphery will maintain the flaps in the FIG. 3 position whether or not the brushes are rotating. As a practical matter, the brushes will coast for a substantial period after the air motors are re-energized by the closure of valve V-2.

Operation of the brushes assures that the side flaps are deflected outwardly to the position shown in FIG. 3 prior to the engagement of the leading or front top carton flap F with the front flap closure surface 42. Air motor 611 is operated to actuate the rear flap tucker during the period within which the side flaps are engaged with brushes 84 and the toe 64 of the rear flap tucker maintains the rear flap in its closed position until the rear flap and carton have been advanced beneath cam surface 42 so that any upward movement of the rear flap after disengagement of toe 64 will not be sufficient to open the rear flap. As the carton advances beneath rear extension 44, extension 44 holds the front and rear flaps in their closed position and inclined abutments 112 engage the outwardly inclined side flaps to shift the side flaps toward the vertical as the carton moves to the left along the conveyer as viewed in FIG. 2. Side plates 122 maintain the side flaps in a substantially upright position until the flaps move into engagement with rear flap closure members 120. Further adavncing movement of the carton to the left as viewed in FIG. 2 carries the side flaps along side flap closure members which fold the side flaps downwardly and inwardly into overlying relationship with the closed front and rear end flaps.

In the disclosed apparatus, after closure of the side flaps, the leading end of the carton runs into abutment 128a at the left-hand end of arm 128. Arm 128 is free to pivot upwardly and movement of conveyor belt 14 adavnces the lower trailing edge of the carton while its forward leading edge is held against movement by arm 128. With the inclination of the conveying surface as indicated in FIG. 1, this action topples the carton over rearwardly onto its previously upper surface.

While one embodiment of this invention has been described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiment can be modified. Therefore, the foregoing description should be considered exemplary rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is that defined in the following claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for closing the top end flaps and top side flaps of a carton comprising conveying means for advancing a carton endwise along a given path with the top end flaps and top side flaps in upwardly projecting opened positions, side flap deflecting means mounted above said conveying means in the path of movement of said end and side flaps, said deflecting means being capable of flexing movement in a direction parallel to the direction of advancement of said carton along said conveying means to permit movement of the leading carton end flap past said deflecting means and being engageable with the side flaps of said carton to deflect said side flaps to respectively outwardly incline-d positions, means for folding the carton end flaps to their closed positions while said side flaps are deflected outwardly, and means for closing said side flaps into overlying relationship with the closed end flaps after said carton has been advanced beyond said deflecting means. i

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said side flap deflecting means, said end flap folding means, and said side flap closing means are mounted upon a common frame assembly, and means for vertically adjusting said frame assembly toward and away from said conveying means.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising resilient spring finger means located between said means for folding the carton end flaps and said means for closing said side flaps for maintaining the end flaps in their closed position untilsaid carton has been advanced into operative relationship with said means for closing said side flaps.

4. Apparatus for closing the top end flaps and top side flaps of a carton comprising conveying means for advancing a carton endwise along a given path with the top end flaps and top side flaps in upwardly projecting opened positions, rotating brush means mounted above said conveying means in the path of movement of the opened end and side flaps for deflecting the top side flaps of a carton into outwardly inclined positions, means for folding the carton end flaps to their closed positions while said side flaps are deflected outwardly by said brush means, and means for closing said side flaps into overlying relationship with the closed end flaps after said carton has been advanced beyond said brush means.

5. Apparatus for closing the top end flaps and top side flaps of a carton comprising conveying means for advancing a carton endwise along a given path with the top end flaps and top side flaps in upwardly projecting opened positions, a pair of brushes mounted for rotation about respective axes extending parallel to the direction of movement of said carton along said conveying means at a location spaced above conveying means in the path of movement of the opened end and side flaps, said brushes being axially flexible to permit movement of a carton end flap therethrough, means for rotating said brushes in opposite directions about their respective axes to urge the carton side flaps to upwardly and outwardly inclined positions, means for folding the carton end flaps to their closed positions, while said side flaps are deflected outwardly by said brushes, and means for closing said side flaps into overlying relationship with the closed end flaps after the carton has been advanced beyond said brushes.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 further comprising resilient spring finger means located between said means for folding the carton and flaps and said means for closing said side flaps for maintaining the end flaps in their closed position until said carton has been advanced into operative relationship with said means for closing said side flaps.

7. Apparatus for closing the top end flaps and top side flaps of a carton comprising conveying means for advancing a carton endwise along a given path with the top end flaps and top side flaps in upwardly projecting opened positions, a frame assembly mounted for vertical adjustment above said conveying means, rotating brush means mounted upon said frame assembly in the path of movement of the opened end and side flaps for deflecting the top side flaps of a carton advanced along said given path on said conveying means into outwardly inclined positions, means on said frame assembly for folding the carton end flaps to their closed positions while said side flaps are deflected outwardly by said brush means, and means on said frame assembly for closing said side flaps into overlying relationship with the closed end flaps after said carton has been advanced beyond said brush means.

3. Apparatus for closing the top end flaps and top side flaps of a carton comprising conveying means for advancing a carton endwise along a given path With the top end flaps and top side flaps in upwardly projecting opened positions, a frame assembly mounted for vertical adjustment above said conveying means, said frame assembly extending longitudinally along said given path, a pair of rotatable brushes mounted upon said frame assembly for rotation about respective axes transversely spaced from each other on said frame assembly and extending generally parallel to the direction of movement of cartons along said given path, means for rotating said brush means about their respective axes to deflect the top side flaps of a carton moving along said given path into outwardly inclined positions, means on said frame assembly for folding the carton end flaps to their closed positions while said side flaps are deflected outwardly by said brush means, and means for closing said side flaps into overlying relationship with the closed end flaps after saiid carton has been advanced beyond said brush means.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 further compris ing means on said frame assembly for adjusting the transverse spacing between the axes of rotation of said brushes.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 further comprising a resilient spring finger mounted upon said frame assembly and extending longitudinally along and above said given path from a location downstream of said given path from said means for folding the carton end flaps to their closed positions operable to resiliently maintain the end flaps in their closed position until the carton has been advanced into operative relationship with said means for closing said side flaps.

11. Apparatus for closing the top end flaps and top side flaps of a carton comprising conveying means for advancing a carton endwise along a given path with the top end flaps and top side flaps in upwardly projecting opened positions, a frame assembly mounted for vertical adjustment above said conveying means and extending longitudinally along said given path, an inclined cam surface on the forward end of said frame assembly operable to engage the front end flap of a carton advanced along said given path to fold the front end flap rearwardly and downwardly into closed relationship with said carton, a pair of rotatable brush assemblies mounted on said frame assembly for rotation about respective axes extending substantially parallel to said given path at opposite sides of said cam surface, each brush assembly including a relatively thin circular brush projected forwardly of said frame assembly beyond said cam surface to engage the front end flap of a carton advanced along said conveying means before the front end flap engages said cam surface, said brushes being capable of flexing movement in a direction parallel to said given path to permit movement of said front end flap through said brushes,

means for rotating said brushes in opposite directions to deflect the side flaps of a carton advanced along said given path into outwardly inclined positions prior to the engagement between said front end flap and said cam surface and to maintain said side flaps in their respective outwardly inclined positions until said front flap is folded to its closed position by said cam surface, rear flap closing means mounted upon said frame assembly for driving the rear end flap of the carton to its closed position while said side flaps are deflected outwardly by said brushes, and means for moving said side flaps into overlying closed relationship with the closed end flaps after said carton has been advanced beyond said brush assemblies.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 further comprising means on said frame assemblies for adjusting the transverse spacing between the axes of rotation of said brushes.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein one of said brushes is projected forwardly of said frame assembly by a distance greater than the forward projection of the other of said brushes, and means on said frame assembly for simultaneously moving said brush assemblies transversely toward or away from each other to ad just the transverse spacing between the axes of rotation of said brushes while maintaining an equal transverse spacing between said cam surface and the respective axes of rotation, said means for shifting said brush assemblies being operable to decrease the transverse spacing between the axes of rotation to a minimum spacing wherein the respective brushes transversely overlap each other.

14. Apparatus for closing the top end flaps and top side flaps of a carton comprising conveying means for advancing a carton endwise in a downstream direction along a given path with the top end flaps and top side flaps in upwardly projecting opened positions, a frame assembly mounted for vertical adjustment above said conveying means and extending longitudinally along said given path, rotatable side flap deflecting brush means mounted on the upstream end of said frame assembly for side flap deflecting rotation in the path of movement of the end and side flaps of a carton advancing downstream along said conveying means, a leading end flap closing cam on said frame assembly at a location downstream from said brush means for closing the leading end flap of a carton while the carton side flaps are deflected outwardly clear of the path of closing movement of said leading end flap by said brush means, trailing end flap closing means mounted on said frame assembly for closing the trailing end flap while the side flaps are deflected outwardly by said brush means, carton inverting arm means mounted on said frame assembly and projecting downstream of said given path from said frame assembly, side flap closing means mounted upon said arm means and extending from a location spaced downstream from said leading end flap closing means toward the downstream end of said arm means, and a resilient spring finger on said frame assembly for resiliently holding the closed end flaps in their closed positions as the carton is advanced into operative relationship with said side flap closing means.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, further comprising means for vertically adjusting said frame assembly to selected heights above said given path.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,016,807 1/1962 Kerr 53-374 X 3,060,654 10/1962 Lubersky et a1. 53374 X GRANVILLE Y. CUSTER, JR., Primary Examiner.

TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Examiner. 

4. APPARATUS FOR CLOSING THE TOP END FLAPS AND TOP SIDE FLAPS OF A CARTON COMPRISING CONVEYING MEANS FOR ADVANCING A CARTON ENDWISE ALONG A GIVEN PATH WITH THE TOP END FLAPS AND TOP SIDE FLAPS IN UPWARDLY PROJECTING OPENED POSITIONS, ROTATING BRUSH MEANS MOUNTED ABOVE SAID CONVEYING MEANS IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF THE OPENED END AND SIDE FLAPS FOR DEFLECTING THE TOP SIDE FLAPS 